Borussia Dortmund boss Thomas Tuchel searching for consistency as his side head to Benfica

German side have fallen out of contention in Bundesliga ahead of the last 16 Champions League tie

By SUNNI UPAL

13th February 2017,11:17 pm

Updated: 14th February 2017,2:55 am

BORUSSIA DORTMUND coach Thomas Tuchel hopes the return of the Champions League will provide the jolt his inconsistent side need ahead of Tuesday’s visit to Benfica in the first leg of their last-16 tie.

The Germans tormented opposing defences and finished above European champions Real Madrid in Group F after setting a new group-stage goals record, but they have failed to reproduce their best form domestically.

However, the pair are fit to return against Benfica while Ousmane Dembele could also start after coming off the bench at the weekend. Mario Goetze is not part of the squad though after struggling for both form and fitness recently.

Tuchel predicted Tuesday’s clash in Lisbon would elicit a strong response from his players but brushed off any suggestions Dortmund were the favourites to progress.

“In the last 16 of the Champions League there is never a favourite,” he said.

“We will be playing against a complete side; one that is very quick and likes to attack and has a very strong Jonas-Mitroglou pairing that works well together.”

Tuesday’s fixture at the Estadio da Luz will be the first meeting between Benfica and Dortmund since the first round of the 1963/64 European Cup, a tie the German club won 6-2 on aggregate.

Benfica, European champions in 1961 and 1962, advanced with the fewest points (eight) of any team to this season’s knockout phase and are looking to reach the quarter-finals for the third time in six years.

Dortmund’s record-breaking 21-goal haul in the group stage was founded largely on thumping 6-0 and 8-4 wins over Poland’s Legia Warsaw, while they triumphed 2-1 over Sporting in Lisbon in October.

Defender Luisao, who turned 36 on the eve of the match, is poised to make his 500th appearance for Benfica on Tuesday.

“I’m proud to be the coach of a player like him. A player of his age who reaches 500 matches after 14 years at the same club, that doesn’t happen often in modern football.

“If we win it would a good present for him, but also for the club. If he scores a goal, that would be the cherry on top of the cake.”